Electric coupler device



N0V- 24, 1931- H. F. WOERNLEY 1,832,887

ELECTRIC COUPLER DEVICE Filed Sept. 30 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l NVENTOR HARRY FZWOERNLEY 3 BY Waan/W@ AUTORNEY Nov. 24, 1931. H. F. woERNLl-:Y

ELECTRIC COUPLER DEVICE 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Sept. 50.

INVENTOR HARRY F. WOERNLEY ATTOR EY N @mm3 d@ IOM/FOTNZOU NN Mtb 8202K b9 v N wmew zo @hofRzQO Patented Nov. 24, .1931

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRY F. WOERNLEY, OF WILKINSBURG, EIEININ'SYLVANIIA,- ASSGNOB TO TBE WEST- INGHOUSE AIR BRAKE COMPANY, 0F W'ILMERDING,PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPO- RATION OF PENNSYLVANIA ELECTRIC COUPLER DEVICE Application led September 30, 1927. Serial No. 223,200.

This invention relates to couplings for con4 necting electriccircuits between cars of a train, and more particularly to the type of electric coupling employing a movable contact carrier or slide having a plurality of electric contacts adapted to engage corresponding contacts on the counterpart coupler head when the contact carrier or slide is projected. l

An object of my invention is to provide an electric coupler, of the type above referred t0, with means movable with the contact carrier or slide for automatically controlling the opening and closing of an electric circuit or circuits through a car or a train of cars.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electric coupler having means for controlling the door interlock and starting signal circuit in such a manner that the circuit to a signal indication, such as an electric light bulb, will be automatically closed only at the end of the train, or in the case of a single car, at the ends thereof, and further `for controlling this circuit in such a manner that the circuit to the signal indicating means on the coupled ends of cars will be maintained open, so that at no time, in a train of coupled cars, can this-circuit be closed at the coupled ends of the cars.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electric coupler having means for automatically opening the control circuit to the face of the contact carrier when cars are' uncoupled so as to prevent accidental short circuiting of contacts on the face of the contact carrier or slide, which might cause the accidental starting of the car or train and to further prevent leakage ofcurrent between the Contact points carried bythe contact carrier or slide.

These and other objects and advantages will appear from the following more detailed description' of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an electric train line coupler in uncoupled position taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2 and embodying my inventionyparts of the coupler being shown in elevation and parts being broken away to more. clearly7 illustrate the invention; Fig.

2 is a horizontal sectional view of the same taken o n the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, portions of the coupler being broken away; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the invention applied to a railway train unit of'three coupled cars, the outline of the l cars being shown by dotted lines.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive of the drawings, the electric couplermay comprise a casing 1. which may be secured to the car coupler, and containing a movable member or slide 2 carrying a plurality of electric contacts which are adapted to engage with corresponding contacts of the counterpart coupler when the couplers are coupled together and the slides carrying said contacts arey projected outwardly to their extended positions.

Any suitable mechanism may be employed to operate the slide 2, one of'such mechanisms being shown and described in U. S. Patent No. 1.571,222, issued in my name on February 2. 1926, for automatic car, air and electric coupler.

For the purpose of protecting` the exposed ends of the contact terminals from dirt and moisture. there is provided` a door or shutter 3 adapted to close the open front end of the casing 1 This door or shutter is adaptedto be operated through the medium of a mechanism which mav comprise a push rod 4 slidably mounted in the casing 1 and having its outer end proiecting bevond the outer end face of the casing when the coupler is in its normal or uncoupled position. Depending from the inner end of this rod. there is a member 5. the lower end portionv of which is adapted to engage the outer end portion of a link '6, the inner end portion of such link being operatively connected with a lever arm 7 secured to a shaft 8 suitably journalled in the casing 1. Located adi acent the front face of the casing and suitablv journalled therein, is a transverse shaft 9 having secured thereto. adiacent each of its ends, a lever arm 10. the outer ends of such arms being operatively connected with the lower portion of the door or shutter 3. One of these lever arms is operatively connected with the lever arm 7 by a link 11. The force for operating the door or shutter 3 is obtained by the movement of the push rod through its impact with the meeting face of a counterpart coupler head in the act of Cowling. v

ithin the casing 1 and adjacent the rear end thereof, a contact member or bar 12 is provided which extends transversely of the casing and has an arm 13 extending longitudinally of the casing, the outer end portion of which is secured to the slide 2, so that longitudinal movement of the slide will be imparted to the contact bar. The lower portion of this bar comprises an insulating block 14 having mounted thereon a plurality of electrical ,contact members which are adapted to cooperate with electrical contact fingers, mounted on insulating blocks secured to the casing to open or close any desired number of electric circuits. In the present embodiment of the invention, portions of only four circuits have been shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive ofthe drawings, but it will be understood that any desired number of circuits may bel controlled, the four circuits referred to, being the return circuits 15, the control circuit 17 and the door interlock circuit 18. In Fig. 2, two circuits 15 have been illustrated and in Fig. 4, to simplify the drawings and to more clearly illustrate the invention, only one of the circuits 15 has been shown, but it will be understood that any desired number of such circuits may be employed.

The return circuits 15 are employed to connect the usual marker lights 16 at the front and rear ends of the train and may be employed for any other purpose. One wire of each of the return circuits 15, may extend continuously from a contact on the slide 2, at one end of the car, to a contact on the slide at the opposite end of the car and within the casing there is a tap taken from this wire which leads to a Contact member 19- secured to the insulating block 14. Adjacent each of the contact members 19, there is a contact member 2() secured to the block 14 which is connected with a marker light 16. The contact members are adapted to cooperate with electrically connected Contact iingers 22 mounted on insulating blocks 23 secured to the casing for opening and closing the circuits to the marker lights. When the cars of a train are coupled and the slides 2 are in their forward positions, the contact members 19 and 20 are out of contact with the contact fingers 22, thus the circuits to the marker lights are open. When a slide 2 is in its backward or retrieved position, in which position, the slide 2 would be, at the rear end of the last car of a train, the contact members 19 and 20 will engage with the contact fingers 22 and the circuits to the marker lights will be closed. Each of the marker lights are also connected to ground and the circuits 15 are supplied with current from the battery 45.

The battery or control circuit 17 is employed in controlling the operation of the train. Within the casing 1, one wire of this circuit leads from a contact 011 the slide 2 to a contact member 24 secured to the rear face of the block 14 and adjacent this contact member 24, there is a contact member 25 hai'- ing the wire of the circuit leading therefrom to a like Contact member at the opposite end of the ear. These Contact members 24 and 25 are adapted to cooperate with electrically connectedngers 36 which are mounted on an insulating block 26 secured to the casing 1, such fingers being substantially the same as the fingers 22 and are preferably in transverse alignment therewith. When the slide 2-is in its forward position, the contact members 24 and 25 will engage with the adjacent contact fingers 36 and thel circuit will be closed. lVhen the slide is in its backward or retrieved position, the contact members 24 and 25 will be out of engagement with the contact fingers 36 and the circuit will be open. It will thus be seen that when the cars of a train are coupled and the slides 2 are in their forward position, this wire of the circuit is. in eiicct. continuous through the train from the contact member 25, of the electric portion of the coupler at the forward end of the train, to the cont-act member 25 at the rear end thereof. As the slides 2 at the front and rear ends of the train are in their backward or retrieved positions, the circuit to the faces of these slides is open, with the result that no current from this wire is permitted to fiow to the contacts on the faces of slides 2. This is an important feature, in that, it prevents the accidental shorting of this circuit at the front or rear of the train, which shox-ting might result in the unintentional starting of the car or train.

The circuit 18 is employed for automatically operating a signal to indicate, in the operators cab, whether or not all of the entrance and exit doors of the train are properly closed and Whether or not it is safe to start the train. On each car of the train, this circuit 18 may comprise a wire 37 having its ends connected to contacts on the slides 2. Interposed in this wire there are switches 38 which are adapted to be automatically operated upon the opening of a door or doors of the car, to open the circuit and upon the proper closing of the door or doors, to automatically close the circuit. When the doors of the car are properly closed. the Wire 37 will, in effect, be continuous from end to end of the car, and when all of the cars of the train are properly coupled. the slides 2 of the coupled cars in their forward positions and all of the doors of the train properly closed. the wires 37 will be coextensive with each other, thus forming in effect a continuous wire from end to end of the train. Within each of the c asings 1 and at a point between the contact face of the coupler and the door switches 38, a tap is taken from the wire 37 and leads to a contact member 27 secured to the front face of the insulating block 14. Adjacent this contact member 27 there is secured to the block 14, a contact member 28 which is connected, by a wire 29, with a terminal contact 39 adjacent which, there are terminal contacts 40 and 41. The contact 40 is connected with one terminal of a socket (not shown) located in each of the operators cabs in each car, the other terminal 0f each socket being connected to ground at 42. In each socket there is mounted a signal light bulb 43. The contact 41 is connected at 44 to -a wire of the circuit 17 which wire is supplied with an electric current from a battery 45 or any other desired source. It will here be noted that as the positive terminal of the battery 45 is connected to one wire of the circuit 17 and to one wire of each of the circuits 15 and as the negative terminal of the battery and each circuit is connected to ground, all of the circuits are supplied with current from a common source.

These contact members 27 and 28 are adapted to cooperate with spaced contact lingers 30 which are mounted on an insulating block 31 secured to thecasing. Mounted onthis block 31 and preferably in longitudinal alignment.

with the contact fingers 30, there are spaced contact lingers 32. Each of the contact iin- 'gers 30 is electrically connected with the adjacent contact finger 32 by a connector 33.

-For the purpose of controlling the opening and closing of this circuit 18 to the signal light 43, the shaft 8, of the mechanism for operating the shutter 3, is provided with a connector 34 which is mounted in an insulating block 35 secured to the shaft. When the shaft is rotated to open the shutter 3, the connector 34 will be moved out of contact-with the contact fingers 32 and when rotated in the opposite direction will be moved into engagement with such lingers.

The circuit wires connected to the terminal contacts 39,40, and 41 are controlled through the operation of the lordinary reversing drum. When the drum 1s operated to its off position, a member 46 which 1s operative with the drinn will connect the terminals 39 and 41 and when the drum is operated to its forward position, the member 46 will connect the terminal contacts 39 and 40.

When a plurality of cars are coupled together to be operated as a train, the operator, through the operatlon of the reversing drum' at the front end of the front car to its forward position, connects the contacts 39 and 40, and through the operation of all of the remaining drums to their off positions connects the contacts 39 and 41.

Assuming a train to comprise three coupled cars as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the slide 2 at the rear of the rear car and the slide 2 at the front of the front-car will be in their backward or retrieved positions and the shutters 3 will be closed while all of the other slides 2 of the cars will be in their forward positions and the shutters 3 open. g In the retrieved positions of the slides 2, the contacts 27' and 28 will be in engagement with the spaced contact `fingers 30 and the con# nectors 34 will contact with their respective contact fingers 32 and electrically'connect these lfingers. Now, if all of the doors of the train are properly closed, the couplers coupled and all of the slides 2 at the coupled ends of the cars are in their forward positions and the slides 2 at the front and rear ends of the train are in their backward or retrieved positions, current from the battery 45, on the rear car `of the train, flows through the wire of the circuit 17 to the terminal Contact 41 at the rear` end of the rear car, through the member 46 to contact 39 and from thence through the contact member 28, one of the contact fingers 30, one of the connectors 33, one of the contact fingers 32, connector 34, the other contact finger 32, connector 33, contact finger 30 to the wire 37, and through all ofthe wires 37 and switches 38 to the contact member 27 at the front end of the front car of the train, then through one of the `contact lingers 30, one

train. Should one or more of thedoors of l the train be open, the switches 38, operable by the doors, will bef maintained o en so that the clrcuit will be open and the signal light will not light. If for any reason the slide 2 at the coupled end of a car should be retrieved, the contact members 27 and 28 at this end of the car will contact with the contact lingers 30, but as the cars are coupled, the cooperating push rods 4 are in their inward positions, in which they maintain the connector 34 out' of contact with the contact lingers 32 so that at this point the circuit cannot be closed and cause thesignal light at. the front end of the train to light. It will thus be seen that the cooperation of the contact members 27 and 28 with the contact lingers 30 and the cooperation of the connector 34 with the lingers 32, to complete the vsignal light circuit is only possible when an end of a car becomes the end of a train. YF rom the foregoing description it will be readily understood that it is practically impossible to cause the signal light at the `front end of the train to light unless all of the train conditions are as they should be.

lvhile one illustrative embodiment of the invention has been described in detail, it is not my intention to limit its scope to that embodiment or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an electric train line coupler, the combination with a casing having an opening formed therein, of an electric contact carrier mounted in said casing and adapted to be projected or retracted through said opening, a shuter for controlling said opening, an electric circuit associated with said carrier, and means whereby said circuit will be closed when said carrier is in its retracted position and said shutter closed and whereby said circuit is open when said shutter is open, or when said carrier is projected.

2. In an electric train line coupler, the combination with a casing having an opening formed therein, of an electric contact carrier mounted in said casing and'adapted to be projected or retracted through said opening, a shutter for controlling said opening, an electric circuit associated with said carrier, and means whereby said circuit will be closed when said carrier is in its retracted position and said shutter closed, said means being operable upon the opening of said shutter or the projecting ot' the Contact carrier 'or both, for opening the electric circuit.

3. In an electric coupler, the combination with a casing, of a contact carrier adapted to be projected or retracted relative to said casing, a contact bar movable with said contact carrier` separated electric contact members on said bar., a wire from one of said members to a-contact member on said carrier, a wire from an electric current supply cource to the other of said members. and means carried by said casing for connecting' said members when said carrier is projected to permit current to flow to the tace ot said contact carrier.

4. In an electric coupler, the combination with a casing, of a contact carrier adapted to be projected or retracted relative to said casing, a contact bar movable with said contact carrier, an electric connector carried by said casing` and separated contact members carried by said bar adapted to be moved into and out of contact with said connector, one of said members being electrically connected with an electric current supply source and the other being electrically connected with said carrien both of said members being in contact with said connector when said carrier is projected and out of contact with said connector when said carrier is retracted.

5. In an electric train line coupler, the combination with a casing having an opening formed therein, of an electric contact carrier mounted in said casing and adapted to be projected or retracted through said opening, a Contact bar movable with said contact carrier, a shutter for controlling said opening, said shutter being normally closed, means operable upon the coming together of counterpart couplers for opening said shutter, an electric circuit comprising a pair of connectors carried by said casing, a rotatable contact member carried by said casing and normally connecting said connectors, and a pair of contacts carried by said bar normally closing said circuit through said connectors and contact member, said contact member be ing operative by said means to open said circuit When the counterpart couplers come together and said contacts being operative with .said bar to open said circuit when said contact carrier is projected.

6. In an electric train line coupler, the combination with a casing having an opening formed therein, of an electric contact carrier mounted in said casing and adapted to be projected or retracted through said opening, a contacL bar movable with said contact carrier, a shutter for controlling said opening, said shutter being normally closed, mechanism operable upon the coming together of counterpart couplers for opening said shutter, an electric circuit, and means carried by said casing and means carried by said bar for normally closing said circuit in said coupler, the means carried by said casing being operative by said mechanism when the mechanism is operatedto open said shutter to open said circuit and the means carried by said contact bar being operative with said bar to open said circuit when said contact carrier is projected.

In testimony whereot` I have hereunto set my hand.,

HARRY F. WUERNLEY. 

